impression I got from the phrasing was that Mesmer basically did Marika's dirty work and was essentially written out of history and maybe even exiled both to keep it hidden and also keep his ambitions in check, kind of like Shishio from Rurouni Kenshin
One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is how that scene that people are referring to as the birth of the Erdtree resembles Rykard and his "blasphemy" (and less so, the piles of flesh found in Mohg's temples and the dynasty grounds). The piles of corpses with arms outstretched looks so much like the Blasphemous Blade and Rykard's innards after you kill him. I wonder if the Erdtree itself was born from a similar ritual of consuming the defeated from the war that Messmer wrought. Between that and the similarities to all the other things considered abhorrent by the Golden Order (the godskin nobles, Messmer's flames and eye resembling Dragon Communion, etc.), I wonder if we're going to be finding out that the Golden Order has some real skeletons in its closet around what is considered sanctioned or not.
Great catch! Now I'm wondering if Eiglay as the OG god-devouring serpent will make an appearance in the DLC. (Especially with the lines about seduction and betrayal...) Plus, Rykard is one of my favorite bosses and I would love new lore about the Recusants and Volcano Manor.
Narrator for the story trailer is the lead follower of Miquella, the knight with the arch on the helmet in the trailer. Can be seen at the end with the group closest to the rune looking thing. There was also art posted of them today on Elden Ring's official twitter. The biggest Miquella simp lol.
Ah, I literally just missed that! Though with what we know about transferring souls and swapping bodies, my unhinged copium is that that knight is in fact Renna.
Thank you! I was surprised no one else had brought that up since it seems like a really important parallel (especially since Fia and Dung Eater created mending runes, which are even more powerful than the Great Runes of the Demigods).
I think the narrater is Miquella. I believe the Elden Ring is a large story that was split into two parts: the main part is about Ranni, and the other part is Miquella's. They are the only two who have been able to truely subvert their destinies.
The way the threads marika holds up flow and sway in the wind very much remind me of fabric. Maybe those threads are the fabric the veil over the "Shadow of the Erdtree", which she is weaving into said veil. That would at least be very topical to a trailer for the dlc.
1:48 oh that's why they're called "finger maiden". So when Melina gives you the ability to turn runes into strength on your own, she hands you a fleshlight? xD
Now having seem some of the DLC, this affair seems to be Marika being guided by the fingers to Godhood. Slaughtering the Hornsent seemed necessary to construct the gate, somehow.
Referencing Griffith eclipse scene obviously.The tortured Marika/Griffith betrayed and sacrificed almost everyone to achieve godhood. Obviously it's not 1-to-1 since it's the Hornsent's headcanon that Marika was ever on their side but creatives like to put their twist on a reference.
Queen Marika literally stole the golden threads that later became the Elden Ring (HIGHLY speculative) from the corpse of the Gloam Eyed Queen...? I don't know, maybe she seduced and then betrayed the Gloam Eyed Queen father...? I don't know.
I don't think the threads are the Elden Ring per se, but rather her Rune since there was that earlier, more primal Elden Ring in Maliketh's arena. And I love how “Marika seduced the Gloam-Eyed Queen” went from the most unhinged fanfic to prevailing fan theory 😅
Ooh, great question! There definitely seems like there should be a connection between the eyes, especially since it's such a popular motif for Miyazaki to represent contact with some type of higher power (e.g. Bloodborne ofc but in Elden Ring, there's also the Frenzied Flame with its "grapes.") Smoughtown did have a great video about how Ranni and Melina both have a bodiless existence and only one working eye for the majority of the game. Ranni was also an Empyrean, while the Gloam-Eyed Queen was rumored to be an Empyrean. And there's also the gloam-colored beast eye we get from Gurranq to detect Deathroot (in 1.00 it was even confirmed to be the gouged out of Maliketh). So yeah, there is definitely something going on there though I just can't quite put my finger on it. Grant us eyes Miyazaki!
The hair actually almost has a reddish tinge to it, which makes me wonder Is that just the lighting or is it actually a hue of red which could indicate radagon
or it's radagon who hated his own red hair seduced and betrayed someone, steal golden rune/ring and then became golden god body also doesn't look like women body
Yeah, I think it's partly the lighting but I also wonder if that shot is another one of Marika in transition between being Marika and Radagon (kinda like the opening cut scene before the Radagon fight).
That's quite possible! Though since the line "the betrayal" comes right after the "the seduction," this seems to imply that the seduction led to the betrayal. And if that is the case, I really, really hope Messmer wasn't involved (though with the mythology by GRRM, who knows?)
I enjoy this channel. How you don't avoid the theme of sex/birth here. An aside, in Christian Gnostic mythology, we see the character of Eve turn herself into a tree to avoid being assaulted by the evil Archon characters. There is another version we're Eve saves a different woman from being assaulted by the Archons by turning her into a tree. I think there is really something to the Gnostic Christian mythology inspiring the games. Fun video. Enjoy your work
Thank you so much! And I've actually been re-reading some of those Gnostic texts for my next video!! There are so many parallels between Eve and Marika...
Real theory: Miquella isn't griffith, he's worse and we'll get "Miquella Lord of Shadow" or some such at the end of the DLC. Unhinged and Unrelated Theory: DS1 Tarkus died of a crushed pelvis.
Would "Usurped" be a better word than "Stole?" What do you call it when you steal someone else's baby and raise it as your own? That is what Marika appears to be doing.
Just gonna leave all this here... In the time when there was no Erdtree, death was burned in ghostflame. Deathbirds were the keepers of that fire. The Deathbirds are graveyard fire keepers; it is said they rake out the ashen remains of the dead from their kilns. A talisman adorned with blue feathers, once used in ancient death rituals. The twinbird is said to be the envoy of an outer god, and mother of the Deathbirds. The priests became guardians of the birds through the rite of Death, which also serves as an oath sworn to their distant resurrection. They are cinders of the ancient death hex, raked from the fires of ghostflame by Deathbirds. Greatsword patterned after the black steeple of the Helphen, the lampwood which guides the dead of the spirit world. The lamplight is similar to grace in appearance, only it is said that it can only be seen by those who met their death in battle. A number of new growths bud from the antler-like horns of the fallen king, each glowing with light. Thus does new life grow from death, and from death, one obtains power. Ancestral spirits exist as a phenomenon beyond the purview of the Erdtree. Life sprouts from death, as it does from birth. Such is the way of the living. The Fire Giants borrowed from the power of a fell god, and still they were defeated. Yet their failure released them from their solitary curse: to serve as keepers of the Flame for eternity. Every giant is red of hair, and Radagon was said to have despised his own red locks. Perhaps that was a curse of their kind. The Rune of Death goes by two names; the other is Destined Death. The forbidden shadow, plucked from the Golden Order upon its creation... It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden. That was the first recorded Death of a demigod in all history. The black flame could once slay gods. But when Maliketh sealed Destined Death, the true power of the black flame was lost. The apostles, once said to serve Destined Death, are wielders of the god-slaying black flame. But after their defeat by Maliketh, the Black Blade, the source of their power was sealed away. The Gloam-Eyed Queen led the apostles. It is said that she was an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers. Maliketh was a shadowbound beast given to his Empyrean. Marika's sole need of her shadow was a vessel to lock away Destined Death. Even then, she betrayed him. Maliketh's black blade which once harbored the power of the Rune of Death. A sad shadow of its former glory. After a fragment of Death was stolen on that fateful night, Maliketh bound the blade within his own flesh, such that none might ever rob Death again.
Tldr; Rune of Destined Death was plucked out, not to protect Marika and her offspring, but to protect the Greater Will from her. Messmer is, therefore, a follower of the Gloam Eyed Queen, who is Marika.
impression I got from the phrasing was that Mesmer basically did Marika's dirty work and was essentially written out of history and maybe even exiled both to keep it hidden and also keep his ambitions in check, kind of like Shishio from Rurouni Kenshin
bro cooked
One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is how that scene that people are referring to as the birth of the Erdtree resembles Rykard and his "blasphemy" (and less so, the piles of flesh found in Mohg's temples and the dynasty grounds). The piles of corpses with arms outstretched looks so much like the Blasphemous Blade and Rykard's innards after you kill him. I wonder if the Erdtree itself was born from a similar ritual of consuming the defeated from the war that Messmer wrought.
Between that and the similarities to all the other things considered abhorrent by the Golden Order (the godskin nobles, Messmer's flames and eye resembling Dragon Communion, etc.), I wonder if we're going to be finding out that the Golden Order has some real skeletons in its closet around what is considered sanctioned or not.
Great catch! Now I'm wondering if Eiglay as the OG god-devouring serpent will make an appearance in the DLC. (Especially with the lines about seduction and betrayal...)
Plus, Rykard is one of my favorite bosses and I would love new lore about the Recusants and Volcano Manor.
Your analysis is fantastic. Please make more content and longer.
Thank you so much! And I've got so many videos I can't wait to make!
The scarseal/soreseal symbolism with the tree sap was a really good catch!
Thanks!
Narrator for the story trailer is the lead follower of Miquella, the knight with the arch on the helmet in the trailer. Can be seen at the end with the group closest to the rune looking thing. There was also art posted of them today on Elden Ring's official twitter.
The biggest Miquella simp lol.
Ah, I literally just missed that! Though with what we know about transferring souls and swapping bodies, my unhinged copium is that that knight is in fact Renna.
I also believe it is her in first trailer standing by the cocoon in moghs palace
@@SENTINEL641 same voice too, i think!
Mesmer probably killed the giants and then Marika claimed that she did, removing Mesmer from history
Good point on Fía and Dungeater! That just added some ingredients to the discussion around what the DLC will be about
Thank you! I was surprised no one else had brought that up since it seems like a really important parallel (especially since Fia and Dung Eater created mending runes, which are even more powerful than the Great Runes of the Demigods).
I think this is the birth of Melina !! She was born at the "foot" of the erd tree which are the roots
I think the narrater is Miquella. I believe the Elden Ring is a large story that was split into two parts: the main part is about Ranni, and the other part is Miquella's. They are the only two who have been able to truely subvert their destinies.
I love your analysis of ELDEN RING and ARMORED CORE 6 ALCHEMY concept
Thank you so much! I can't wait to see what kind of esoteric symbols and allusions I can bring to light in the Shadow of the Erdtree.
@@garrulousgoldmask and I will enjoy watching it
The way the threads marika holds up flow and sway in the wind very much remind me of fabric.
Maybe those threads are the fabric the veil over the "Shadow of the Erdtree", which she is weaving into said veil. That would at least be very topical to a trailer for the dlc.
Ooh, great catch! That also reminded me that Radagon was a seamster...
1:48 oh that's why they're called "finger maiden". So when Melina gives you the ability to turn runes into strength on your own, she hands you a fleshlight? xD
Now having seem some of the DLC, this affair seems to be Marika being guided by the fingers to Godhood. Slaughtering the Hornsent seemed necessary to construct the gate, somehow.
Referencing Griffith eclipse scene obviously.The tortured Marika/Griffith betrayed and sacrificed almost everyone to achieve godhood. Obviously it's not 1-to-1 since it's the Hornsent's headcanon that Marika was ever on their side but creatives like to put their twist on a reference.
Queen Marika literally stole the golden threads that later became the Elden Ring (HIGHLY speculative) from the corpse of the Gloam Eyed Queen...? I don't know, maybe she seduced and then betrayed the Gloam Eyed Queen father...?
I don't know.
I don't think the threads are the Elden Ring per se, but rather her Rune since there was that earlier, more primal Elden Ring in Maliketh's arena.
And I love how “Marika seduced the Gloam-Eyed Queen” went from the most unhinged fanfic to prevailing fan theory 😅
@@garrulousgoldmask or maybe she seduced her father, and from that union Messmer was born? Idk it’s all wildly speculative
Another possibility! Marika being Radagon does open up her seduction possibilities...
Is there some connection between the Soreseal (rune engraved on an eye) and the Sealed Eyes of Melina and Ranni? And potentially Messmer?
Ooh, great question! There definitely seems like there should be a connection between the eyes, especially since it's such a popular motif for Miyazaki to represent contact with some type of higher power (e.g. Bloodborne ofc but in Elden Ring, there's also the Frenzied Flame with its "grapes.")
Smoughtown did have a great video about how Ranni and Melina both have a bodiless existence and only one working eye for the majority of the game. Ranni was also an Empyrean, while the Gloam-Eyed Queen was rumored to be an Empyrean.
And there's also the gloam-colored beast eye we get from Gurranq to detect Deathroot (in 1.00 it was even confirmed to be the gouged out of Maliketh). So yeah, there is definitely something going on there though I just can't quite put my finger on it. Grant us eyes Miyazaki!
What is the word you used to describe Marika pulling out the golden threads? “…very overtly _______”?
Yonic!
wake up babe best elden ring youtuber just dropped a vid
Alchemical symbol for copper?
@@KaedNinescarred yep! Good eye
Mesmer for sure is the reason for the ashes in Leyndell and why burning the erdtree is a cardinal sin.
The hair actually almost has a reddish tinge to it, which makes me wonder Is that just the lighting or is it actually a hue of red which could indicate radagon
I think it's Radagon as well but the lighting makes his hair look red. Probably still golden since this is before everything with the giants.
or it's radagon who hated his own red hair seduced and betrayed someone, steal golden rune/ring and then became golden god
body also doesn't look like women body
Yeah, I think it's partly the lighting but I also wonder if that shot is another one of Marika in transition between being Marika and Radagon (kinda like the opening cut scene before the Radagon fight).
Does anyone think that Mesmer is the one whom Marika betrayed? Or did Marika promise him something then betray HIM?
That's quite possible! Though since the line "the betrayal" comes right after the "the seduction," this seems to imply that the seduction led to the betrayal. And if that is the case, I really, really hope Messmer wasn't involved (though with the mythology by GRRM, who knows?)
When ppl in game talk, can you put the text on screen. It's hard ti hear over in game music
I enjoy this channel. How you don't avoid the theme of sex/birth here.
An aside, in Christian Gnostic mythology, we see the character of Eve turn herself into a tree to avoid being assaulted by the evil Archon characters. There is another version we're Eve saves a different woman from being assaulted by the Archons by turning her into a tree.
I think there is really something to the Gnostic Christian mythology inspiring the games.
Fun video. Enjoy your work
Thank you so much! And I've actually been re-reading some of those Gnostic texts for my next video!! There are so many parallels between Eve and Marika...
@garrulousgoldmask that is so cool! I'm really looking forward to your next video
Real theory: Miquella isn't griffith, he's worse and we'll get "Miquella Lord of Shadow" or some such at the end of the DLC.
Unhinged and Unrelated Theory: DS1 Tarkus died of a crushed pelvis.
I think the narrator is from the first trailer and her statues are all over Liurnia and in the Rise of Erudition. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
its pretty clearly one of the people in the group. and they released a promo pic on x of the character with her helmet off earlier today
Messmer is Father Of The Draconians
Marika isnt creating grace she stole it
Would "Usurped" be a better word than "Stole?"
What do you call it when you steal someone else's baby and raise it as your own? That is what Marika appears to be doing.
@@tonylawson2222 yes i agree with you 100%
Your accent is so cute 😜
Thanks!
Just gonna leave all this here...
In the time when there was no Erdtree, death was burned in ghostflame. Deathbirds were the keepers of that fire.
The Deathbirds are graveyard fire keepers; it is said they rake out the ashen remains of the dead from their kilns.
A talisman adorned with blue feathers, once used in ancient death rituals.
The twinbird is said to be the envoy of an outer god, and mother of the Deathbirds.
The priests became guardians of the birds through the rite of Death, which also serves as an oath sworn to their distant resurrection.
They are cinders of the ancient death hex, raked from the fires of ghostflame by Deathbirds.
Greatsword patterned after the black steeple of the Helphen, the lampwood which guides the dead of the spirit world.
The lamplight is similar to grace in appearance, only it is said that it can only be seen by those who met their death in battle.
A number of new growths bud from the antler-like horns of the fallen king,
each glowing with light.
Thus does new life grow from death,
and from death, one obtains power.
Ancestral spirits exist as a phenomenon beyond the purview of the Erdtree. Life sprouts from death, as it does from birth. Such is the way of the living.
The Fire Giants borrowed from the power of a fell god,
and still they were defeated.
Yet their failure released them from their solitary curse:
to serve as keepers of the Flame for eternity.
Every giant is red of hair, and Radagon was said to have despised his own red locks. Perhaps that was a curse of their kind.
The Rune of Death goes by two names; the other is Destined Death. The forbidden shadow, plucked from the Golden Order upon its creation...
It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden. That was the first recorded Death of a demigod in all history.
The black flame could once slay gods. But when Maliketh sealed Destined Death, the true power of the black flame was lost.
The apostles, once said to serve Destined Death, are wielders of the god-slaying black flame. But after their defeat by Maliketh, the Black Blade, the source of their power was sealed away.
The Gloam-Eyed Queen led the apostles. It is said that she was an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers.
Maliketh was a shadowbound beast given to his Empyrean.
Marika's sole need of her shadow was a vessel to lock away Destined Death.
Even then, she betrayed him.
Maliketh's black blade which once harbored the power of the
Rune of Death. A sad shadow of its former glory.
After a fragment of Death was stolen on that fateful night,
Maliketh bound the blade within his own flesh, such that none
might ever rob Death again.
Tldr; Rune of Destined Death was plucked out, not to protect Marika and her offspring, but to protect the Greater Will from her. Messmer is, therefore, a follower of the Gloam Eyed Queen, who is Marika.
Suffering succotash.
too bad this wasnt in the dlc